Ranchi: Tribal rights activist Stan Swami and developmental economist known for labour rights activism Jean Dreze , along with representatives of civil society organisations, released a people’s manifesto under the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha banner here on Monday.Mahasabha is a coalition of more than 30 progressive organisations, activists and intellectuals working in different parts of the state for the rights of poor, tribals, dalits, women and minorities. The Mahasabha, in its charter, has declared to remain apolitical and avoid government funds to maintain its independent character.Releasing the people’s manifesto, Swami, who was recently indicted by the Pune Police in Bhima Koregaon violence case and a sedition charge was also filed against him, said the Mahasabha believes that the state and country are passing through a phase of undeclared emergency. “Peoples’ rights and basic tenets of democracy are under attack, like the amendment of the Land Acquisition Act, starvation deaths, lynching incidents, increasing atrocities on adivasis, dalits, minorities and women, attacks on the freedom of expression, harassment of activists, attacks on traditional self-governance systems of Adivasis have been rampant.”The activists also said the general election presents an opportunity to protect democracy and the constitution. “On the one hand, ruling dispensation is sparing no effort to weaken democratic institutions and on the other, principal opposition parties also do not have a firm stand on people’s issues prompting the civil society groups to come forward with a list of issues that must form a part of the political discourse,” Swami said.The Mahasabha demanded the political parties contesting 2019 Lok Sabha polls to exhibit explicit commitment on the people’s issues in their election manifesto. Detailing on the demands of Mahasabha, Bharat Bhushan Choudhary said the constitutional rights to a gram sabha must be restored and any party coming to power should repeal the anti-people Land acquisition amendment Act 2018 (Jharkhand).“Land acquired from people for the land bank without taking permission from the gram sabha must be returned to the people,” he said. Choudhary said the social security norms like food, nutrition, universal common education till secondary level must be guaranteed for all citizens.The Mahasabha has also demanded transparency in funding of political parties and right to recall elected representatives should be introduced by the government in power in form of legislation.

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